1032 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



SWEDEN 45 



In Sweden, more than three fourths of the forest is privately owned, 

 and more than half of this belongs to farmers. Control over the 

 management of private forests is vested in the provincial forest con- 

 servation boards, of which there are some 24. There is no central 

 board, and these boards are entirely independent of the State forest 

 administration, although they cooperate closely with it. An owner 

 may appeal from the board's decisions to (1) the provincial govern- 

 ment, and (2) the King. The boards under this law consist each of 

 three persons acquainted with local conditions, one representing the 

 National Government, one the local government, and one the local 

 timber owners' association. If there is more than one association, 

 each has a representative, and the local government's representatives 

 are increased accordingly. Each board employs a technical forester 

 as secretary, as well as assistants, rangers, and office staff. It is the 

 duty of the boards to inspect private forests, enforce regulations, and 

 promote forest management through extension and demonstration. 

 Each parish may have a similar local board of three members, one 

 appointed by the county board and two by the parish vestry board. 



A forest conservation tax or a severance tax is collected, amounting 

 to 1.3 percent of the value of the cut wood. Of this, 90 percent goes 

 for the support of the conservation board in the district where col- 

 lected, and 10 percent goes to the national treasury for distribution, if 

 necessary, among other districts. The boards also receive subsidies 

 from the central and provincial governments, and some income from 

 the sale of seed and planting stock, etc. 



In most of the provinces young forests may not be felled except to 

 fill domestic needs where no other timber is available, or unless such 

 cutting is in accord with good forestry principles (thinning) and done 

 with the permission of the forest conservation board, under such 

 restrictions as the board may impose. Older forests may not be cut 

 in such a manner as to imperil the regrowth of the forest, nor may the 

 ground be treated after cutting in a way that will prevent forest 

 reproduction. Unless authorized by the board, no cutting may be 

 done, except for domestic use of the owner, which will not leave 

 enough timber to meet future domestic needs. An owner may ask 

 the board for a statement as to the legality of any proposed cutting, 

 and any cutting done in accord with such a statement will be legal. 

 The board may prohibit cutting that is being done or that there is 

 reason to believe will be done contrary to regulations or stipulations. 

 The provincial forester may be authorized to enforce this provision, 

 subject to confirmation by the board itself within 10 days. 



Unless reproduction takes place within a reasonable time after 

 cutting, the owner may be required to restock the land by artificial 

 means. He may also be required to reforest areas destroyed by fire, 

 storm, insects, grazing, etc., but unless such destruction was his own 

 fault he may not be required to spend more than the salvage value of 

 the damaged timber, plus any compensation (such as insurance) that 



Law of July 24, 1903 (Protection forests) . Law of July 24, 1903 (Vasterbotten and Norrbotten) . Law 

 of June 13, 1908 (Gottland). Law of June 15, 1923 (Forest in general). Law of June 15, 1923 (Forest con- 

 servation boards). Law of July 24, 1903 (Timber sale agreements). Law of October 11, 1912 (Forest con- 

 servation tax) . 



